The Office of Undergraduate Education is opening a new food pantry to help students in need. The Comet Cupboard has been set up to provide necessary food and personal care items to currently enrolled UT Dallas students.

“I just hope that even the little we did for the Comet Cupboard sparks other people’s interest to donate, or even just to do a small, good deed,” said volunteer Amber Brown.

The Comet Cupboard will celebrate its grand opening Friday, Oct.12, at 6 p.m. outside the Student Union. The festivities will include live entertainment, food, a food drive contest among student organizations and volunteer opportunities.

“The Comet Cupboard is providing a new service for the UT Dallas community that will provide assistance for students who don’t have the resources to go out shopping for food. I hope that more students, faculty and staff learn about the Cupboard, and that they take advantage of the opportunity to better our community through donations or volunteering,” said Katherine Borner, a junior biochemistry major who became involved in the project through the Undergraduate Dean Advisory Council.

The Comet Cupboard is on the first floor of the McDermott Library in MC 1.604. Hours of operation are 3:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m., Monday-Friday.

The Comet Cupboard needs food donations to keep the shelves stocked. Donations of needed items are accepted during operating hours at the Cupboard, or at Founders (FO) 2.710 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Monetary donations are also being accepted online.

The Comet Cupboard was inspired by this year’s summer reading for incoming freshmen.

The Comet Cupboard also needs volunteers to work in the Cupboard and to process donations. To find out how to become involved, please visit the project website and complete the volunteer interest form.

The Comet Cupboard was inspired by this year’s academic theme Community vs. Individualism: Can They Co-exist?, which was the central theme of the summer reading for incoming freshmen, The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement. The food pantry adds to the holistic educational experience for undergraduates by providing an opportunity to serve the community. The project was officially announced during the University Convocation ceremony.

Amber Brown, a member of UT Dallas’ women’s basketball team, said she was inspired by this year’s academic theme. She and her teammates volunteered to gather goods.

“It's tough when you don't have money for food, it can be one of the worst feelings ever. That’s why the women’s basketball team and I wanted to gather all the needed items. We felt like it was the least we could do,” Brown said. “I just hope that even the little we did for the Comet Cupboard sparks other people’s interest to donate, or even just to do a small, good deed.”